When psychologist talk about “ stream state ” , they ’re referring to that feeling of getting altogether lose in a task , incognizant of external distraction . vocalize somewhat corking , right ? Lots of inquiry has point to the feelgood benefit of being in flow and howwe can all achieve it , but a late study discovered new insight into what materialise inside our brains in the afterglow of flow .
Whileflow statescan be achieved during all different type of labor , one group that seems to feel them more readily is musicians . That ’s why a squad lead by Professor Joydeep Bhattacharya from Goldsmiths , University of London enter 48 musicians , including singers , wind actor , bowed stringed instrument players , and pianists , for their late field of study .
“ Musicians often experience this state of flow during playing , ” the researchers spell in their paper . “ However , we know little about the brain ’s bodily function during this unique country . One challenge in meditate the brain during musical performances is the likely hindrance make by social movement , which can cut off the recorded brain responses . ”
Not sure the New York Philharmonic’s new dress code will catch on, to be honest.Image credit: Goldsmiths, University of London
To get past this hurdle , the squad resolve to focalize on the immediate aftermath of the flow state , concentrating on the moments just after the musician had make out their performance . This imply they could collect electroencephalography ( EEG)recordingswhile the participants were sitting completely still , and get a better sense of how the flow “ afterglow ” presents within the mentality .
The player were asked to play pieces that either did or did not induct flow , so as to liken between the two mentality states . Each player take their own music that they knew would or would not permit them to get “ in the zone ” , based on a verbal description the researchers gave them .
During and straight off after the performance , the team call for EEG data .
The researcher mention that there were some inescapable difference during theperformancesthemselves – for example , some of the musicians were more comfortable standing and some session , and some used scores while others play from memory . However , they want to maximize the chances of each someone reach a current United States Department of State , and there was body in the EEG recordings taken after the performances had ended .
After a menstruum - inducing performance , there was an increase in alpha and betabrain bodily process , peculiarly in the head-on region of the brain . Alpha waves are consociate with originative thinking andproblem - solving , while high beta activity more often than not signal a state of alertness and concentre .
These findings were even more pronounced in the most competent musicians , which suggests that their brains may have adjust to draw the maximum benefits from a flow DoS .
The data also suggested increased transmission system of info fromfrontalbrain regions to worldly and parietal regions , which was again seen more powerfully in the expert player . This suggests that during period , the brain is more engaged on the project at hand , and can more well oppress irrelevant information .
The researchers say that this is the first - ever insight into the afterglow of a stream land and its lasting impact on the brain .
“ These specific set of findings provide exciting perspectives on how stream state could impact musicians ' brain , ” said Professor Bhattacharya , in a statement emailed to IFLScience .
“ Importantly , our subject area introduces a practical method by which echt flowing states can be studied in the laboratory . With future inquiry , it may be possible to through empirical observation understand the nature of vertex performance and enjoyment in various activities . ”
The study is print in theCreativity Research Journal .
